When the Dead Come a Knockin'

by B. L. Brunnemer

  “That’s a good thing, Lexie.” Miles said, his voice was soothing as he brushed my hair out of my face. I nodded a little more aware.

  “Then there was the other thing I didn’t expect.” I looked at Miles and just asked. “Why does someone beat the shit out of their kid, if they didn’t do anything wrong?” I blinked hard and focused on his face. Miles licked his lips before meeting my eyes and answering.

  “Lexie, your Mother is ill. She didn’t abuse you because you did something wrong, she abused you because she was a drunk who did drugs. Don’t let her make you think it was your fault.” For some reason when he said that it made perfect sense. It finally sunk into my heart.

  “I knew that, in my head, I knew that...”

  “But in your heart, is another matter.” He said softly. “You owe that woman nothing, don’t let her take up any more room in your head or heart.” I nodded. He was right. The circle of thoughts slowed down. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted, one that I didn’t even know I was carrying. I looked around me and realized where I was.

  “Miles, I’m in the tub.” I pointed out. “I’m in the tub, in my clothes.” I looked back at him and started laughing. Miles grinned and chuckled.

  “You wanted a bath, but I was worried about leaving you alone.” He gestured at my clothes. “Hence the clothes.” I looked up at Miles and smiled. Then it hit me.

  “Miles.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “I reached my center,” I told him beaming, excitement washing over me. I got on my knees in the tub and grabbed his shoulders. “I found my center!” I was giddy with relief and happiness. I felt light and airy, better than I had in weeks. Which is why I did what I did next. I grabbed Miles by the arms and pulled him into the tub with me. He splashed down next to me, then came up sputtering. Water sloshed over the side of the tub. I just kept laughing as I hugged him tight. Miles was laughing at me as I clung to him like a monkey. “Do you know what that means?” I pulled back to look at him. He wiped the water off his glasses.

  “You’re closer to linking with the Veil now?” He offered still laughing at me; still looking at me like I was nuts. I nodded.

  “It also means I can take souls to the Veil.” I was so excited I didn’t even care that he was confused. “I can get them into the Veil so they can cross! Even before I fix the Veil. If I can get the link to the Veil going. We won’t have to have another Mary Summers.” Now he got it, his face lit up as he smiled at me.

  “You’re sure about that?” He asked, of course, a little skeptical. I nodded emphatically and splashed him in the face with water. Miles just laughed and splashed me back. A water fight ensued. The tub was half empty by the time we called a truce. Then I realized I had pulled Miles into the tub. I looked over at him and started laughing again.

  “Sorry, I don’t know why I pulled you in,” I admitted unable to stop laughing. Miles just smiled at me.

  “Because you’re Lexie and you do unexpected things.” He offered. I tilted my head to the side and thought about it. Yep, that was accurate.

  “Yeah, pretty much.” I admitted. He chuckled. Then another thought hit me. “Hey, what time is it anyway?” Miles checked his watch.

  “It’s about eleven forty-five.” He sighed. “We still have lunch at Asher's today.” I nodded. I smacked his shoulder.

  “Okay, get out, I want my bath,” I said sweetly, still with a big smile on my face. He started laughing again and shook his head.

  “We don’t have time for your bath, we’ll be late.” He reminded me. I shrugged.

  “I say we be late, those girls are annoying. Well, except Riley and she’s not going to be there.” I declared, even going so far as to point a finger in the air. Miles chuckled as he reached into his back pocket. He pulled out his cell phone. I burst out laughing.

  “I just keep killing your phones.” I couldn’t stop giggling. Miles tapped the screen and showed me it was still working.

  “Waterproof remember?” He said. That made me laugh even more. I realized I needed to get out also if I was going to get out of my wet clothes. I hit the plug in the tub then climbed out slipping on the floor then landing on my side. I didn’t care, I was still laughing about the phone. I was so lightheaded with relief that I couldn’t stop. Miles tried to climb out but slipped back in.

  “You okay?” I called still laughing.

  “Great.” His dry voice echoed from the tub. It sent me into another giggle fit. Miles did get out and managed to keep his feet under him. When he was steady, he held up his phone. “I’ll call the guys and tell them to start lunch without us.”

  “Don’t tell them! I want to tell them!” I shot at him. He smiled.

  “And pull them into the tub, got it.” He countered still chuckling as he worked his phone on his way out the door. I smiled to myself and looked at the mess we made. Thank God Miles was rich, he had lots of towels.

  Chapter 4

  Thursday Afternoon

  It was fifteen minutes before we were on the road to Asher’s. After cleaning up the bathroom, I settled for a quick shower because I really wanted to go tell the guys the news! We weren’t murderers, well, not really! How often do you get to say that to people? Okay, well you can all the time if you haven’t, but in this case, it was awesome. I still felt awful about Mary Summers, but it wasn’t the heart crushing guilt I had before. I was wearing my usual blue jeans, my black V-neck sweater, and my gym sneakers. Thank you Miles for saving them. Miles drove because I was bouncing around like a fucking rabbit on speed. At least that is what he said, without the cursing, and he was probably right. He ended up having to bring my wool jacket out to the car with him because I had forgotten it inside. I slipped the damn thing on while Miles drove chuckling at me almost the whole way. When Miles pulled up to Asher’s, he kept the doors locked, and didn’t let me out until he finished parking. Apparently, my hands were shaking, and I couldn’t work the fucking button. Then I was out and running across the snow, I slipped and dropped on my ass. Miles kept laughing at me. I just got up and ran up the steps. I shoved open the door and ran in. I saw a big guy in the foyer with nothing in his arms.

  “Hey!” I shouted getting his attention. Then I jumped and wrapped my arms around his neck. Asher grunted as I hit his chest, his arms went around me instantly. He stumbled back but managed to keep us upright.

  “Ally! What the hell?” His voice was so surprised that I started giggling again. I pulled my head back so I could see him and smiled big.

  “Swear jar!” I practically shouted. “I have big news!” I beamed at him. He looked at me like I was nuts. There was laughing behind me. I looked from where I was dangling on Asher to see Miles come into the house.

  “Are you drunk?” Trisha asked almost yelling. I looked over to find her pissed off in the family room, I kept smiling.

  “Nope!” I spotted Zeke and the twins in the family room with the girls. I pointed at the boys, Asher’s arms around my waist kept me off the ground. “Boys! Kitchen! Now!” I shouted smiling. The guys looked worried but got to their feet anyway. I looked up at Asher. “You too! Either put me down or carry me in there. Your choice.” I started giggling again. The others were standing around us now looking at me like I was crazy. It made me keep giggling. Asher looked behind me, I imagine to Miles.

  “Is it safe to put her down?” Asher asked seriously. Miles started snickering again.

  “If I were you, I’d carry her in there and put her on the kitchen island. Keep her away from sharp objects right now.” I looked over my shoulder to see Miles’ face was bright red and he could barely talk by the end of his sentence. I looked back up at Asher beaming.

  “Pick one! Let’s go!”

  “Here, give her to me. Your girlfriend is about to pitch a fit.” Zeke said from behind me. Asher and Zeke did some weird switch thing, and I was in Zeke’s arms, one around my back the other under my knees. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled up at him.

  “Hi, big, tall and grumpy one!” I gree
ted him cheerfully. I couldn’t stop smiling. Zeke was shaking his head as he carried me into the kitchen. The others followed. Miles tried to cover for me with the girls. He said something about an extreme relief reaction. I didn’t care. Zeke carried me into the kitchen.

  “Someone want to move the knives,” Isaac suggested. I spotted Ethan moving the knife block off the island and away from my reach. I didn’t care I just wanted to tell them the news! Zeke put me on the kitchen island and backed up. Isaac came up and put his hands on my legs anchoring me there. I was trying to bounce, and he was stopping me. I smacked his hands, he looked at me and smacked my hands back. A smacking war began. Asher pulled Isaac away, and Zeke’s hands went to my legs stopping me from bouncing. Zeke was trying to stop laughing as he looked down at me but it wasn’t working.

  “Okay... okay, someone talk to her.” Zeke couldn’t stop laughing at me trying to bounce and the look on my face. I looked at the others and saw they all were having the same problem. So, I just told them.

  “I reached my center.” I made a huge effort not to shout. Everyone looked at me surprised. I just kept bouncing. Then they started talking at once.

  “About time,” Zeke said.

  “Good job, Red.”

  “Ally, that’s great.”

  “Beautiful, why are bouncing around like a rabbit?” Ethan asked. I forced myself to focus.

  “That’s not all.” I forced myself to stop bouncing and focused on keeping my voice low. “I found out how to move souls into the Veil, even with it shut off.” I smiled big and started bouncing again. Everyone’s jaw dropped.

  “Are you fucking kidding, Red?” Isaac asked, his voice full of disbelief.

  “Nope! There will never have to be another Mary Summers.” The guys all made sounds of relief and hugged me, I was still giggling when they let me go. I was about to continue when the kitchen door burst open.

  “What is wrong with you?! You come in, jump on my boyfriend, and now you're all holed up in the kitchen?” Asher turned around and took his girlfriend's arm.

  “Trish, Lexie just got some great health news. It’s private. Just please go back out there and be patient.” Asher said in a rush with his rich voice. Trisha glared at me and left. Miles came into the kitchen to stand to the left of the island. Asher turned back, and I was smiling again.

  “Fuck Lexie, if you say there’s more…” Isaac groaned.

  “There’s more!” My face was starting to hurt from smiling, so I stopped. I stopped bouncing too. I gestured for them to come closer. They all leaned in. “To reach my center I had to see the whole Mary Summers thing again, right?” They all listened closely. “It was like a movie this time, I was calm as I watched both of us on that ledge. Then it paused. I saw what the energy did to her. She was, like a rotted log inside. Except for a sliver.” I looked at them and felt tears welling in my eyes.

  “Don’t you dare fucking cry,” Zeke growled. I fought them back then shot a look at him.

  “Then the movie started again in slow motion. And I heard her say something I didn’t hear that night.” I looked at them and smiled a smile of pure relief. “She said ‘Thank you.’” Everyone’s face showed varying levels of shock, then the relief poured in. I smiled, unable to stop now.

  “Seriously? You're not fucking us? Just to make us feel better?” Ethan asked, his eyes storming.

  “Seriously. The energy was wiping her out already, we just put her out of her misery.” They all stared at me, each of them stunned. “We... still killed her... And we’ll always carry that. But she didn’t want to exist like that anymore. It was more... assisted suicide?” I didn’t know if it was the right name for it or not. But it was what I had. There were a lot of loud sounds of relief. I just smiled up at them, suddenly exhausted. The guys started looking at each other, then they started laughing. The world began to spin, so I laid down on my side.

  “Whoa, whoa! Ally, you okay?” Asher asked, catching the others attention. Everyone stopped laughing. I liked my face against the cold tile.

  “I’m suddenly very tired,” I said, my voice matter-of-fact. The guys burst out laughing. Miles came around the island, he smiled gently as he looked down at me.

  “I can imagine, you’ve been rather manic since you came out of that state of shock,” Miles explained. I smiled sweetly at Miles.

  “Thank you for taking care of me, Miles,” I mumbled, tempted to go to sleep right here.

  “Anytime, Lexie.” He looked at the guys. “Let’s get her sitting up and some coffee in her otherwise she’s going to pass out.” I felt hands pulling me up, my face was smacked a bit. I opened my eyes to see Ethan in front of me.

  “Hi Beautiful, stay with us. We got coffee coming.” I nodded, reached out and poked the tip of his nose.

  “Boop.” I snickered. Ethan burst out laughing.

  “Okay, someone else take her. I can’t…” Big hands grabbed me, and I leaned against a broad chest. I looked up and smiled.

  “Don’t boop my nose,” Zeke ordered me. So naturally, I reached up and did just that.

  “Boop.” I started laughing, and I wasn’t the only one. Even Zeke was laughing at me, his face turning red. It was probably just from relief, but I like to think I’m just that funny. But he still held me up. “I booped your nose, what ya gonna do, tough guy?” I smiled up at him.

  “Lexie…” Zeke began. I snickered.

  “You love that I give you shit, and you know it,” I said in a cutesy voice. Zeke smiled down at me as he shook his head.

  “Yeah, I do.” He muttered. Isaac came up beside him with coffee. Zeke took the mug. “You’ve got coffee.” Zeke tempted me. “Just the way you like it, cream and sugar.” I smiled and reached for it. My hands were shaking, that was weird. Miles took the mug from Zeke and put it in my hand, he didn’t let go as he helped me start drinking.

  “Why is she shaking like that?” Zeke asked, his voice growing hard. Miles let me keep drinking the coffee, it was lukewarm, and I wanted more.

  “She was out of it for about half an hour, it was almost like shock. I ended up sticking her in the tub.” Miles said absently. The guys looked at him frowning. Miles didn’t notice. I stopped drinking long enough to defend him.

  “I was still dressed pervs.” I shot at them then drained the mug of coffee; my hands no longer shaking. The guys stopped glaring at Miles. “More coffee please.” It was like magic, and another mug was in front of me. If only it happened like this all the time. I snickered at myself. I drank this one slower and started to wake up. The guys kept asking Miles questions. Miles answered them vaguely. Miles didn’t tell them exactly what I said, it was too private. I was halfway through my second cup of coffee when I blinked hard and looked around. “Oh, fuck. I’m starving.” The guys laughed at me. Then I realized how crazy I was acting. I winced. “Sorry Ash, I didn’t even realize that was you.” Asher snorted.

  “It’s okay, Ally girl, I understand now.” Asher said before he looked at Miles. “What are we going to tell the girls?” I winced again. Oh, this was going to be bad.

  “I told them that she was in the middle of an extreme relief reaction,” Miles said. “You said it was medical news, so let’s stick with that.” I raised my hand while drinking and everyone waited till I was done.

  “Tell them the cover, I have a seizure disorder, and we just learned I’m not dying from complications.” I offered cheerfully before drinking again.

  “That’ll work.” Miles grinned. I smiled back. The guys nodded in agreement.

  “Okay, I’ll go tell them,” Asher said he pointed to Miles. “Can you...” Miles nodded.

  “I’ll take care of her until she’s normal, well, as normal as she gets.” Miles said. I snickered into my coffee. Miles smirked as he continued. “Isaac is making her a sandwich as we speak.” Asher smiled then pulled me into a hug.

  “Great news, Ally girl.” Asher whispered to me. Then he went to do damage control. I looked around and saw a bowl of chips. I grabbed a
couple, Zeke didn’t even bitch. Yay! The others filed out. Zeke looked me over before giving me a shoulder squeeze and heading into the family room, Ethan hugged me and kissed my temple. I felt loved. Then Isaac brought me a sandwich, and I felt really loved.

  “You’re the best Cookie Monster,” I said before diving in. Isaac and Miles watched as I finished that sandwich in under three minutes. Isaac was laughing by the end. I was starting to feel better. I kept munching on some chips while I waited till Miles said I was good. Isaac stayed with us.

  “So, you put her in the tub, still in her clothes,” Isaac said with a big grin. Miles shrugged.

  “He took off my shoes.” I pointed out while I grabbed another chip. “Then when I came out of it, I got it into my head to yank him into the tub.” I giggled as I looked at Miles. Isaac burst out laughing. “He had his cell phone on him too.” Miles was smiling at me and shaking his head.

  “So, the waterproof phone paid off?” Isaac asked smirking. Miles nodded. Isaac was still laughing as he heading into the family room. I kept eating chips till I was full. Then I looked at Miles.

  “Sorry Miles,” I said realizing how odd that must have been for him.